Here I share my Mum’s recipe for crunchy, nutty and flaky baklava that is a signature dessert for Greeks all over the world.
Let me know if you try this.
It’s easy to make, far easier in fact than it looks so if you fancy it, don’t be put off that it looks a little high maintenance!
Baklava is a popular, sweet, nut-filled pastry whose origins are from Greece and Turkey, although they can also be found in the bakeries of Northern Africa and the Middle East. Follow this recipe to make your own!
Ingredients:
250g walnuts, coarsely chopped.
250g blanched almonds, coarsely chopped.
75g pistachio nuts, coarsely chopped.
Finely grated rind of a lemon.
2 tsp cinnamon
4-5 cloves, ground
75g unsalted butter
125ml vegetable oil
375g packet fresh filo pastry
For the syrup:
600 ml water
350g caster sugar
75g clear honey
2 strips of lemon rind
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 stick cinnamon
4-5 whole cloves
Method:
Preheat the oven to 180 c, gas mark 4. Mix the nuts and lemon rind with the cinnamon and cloves in a small bowl. Melt the butter with the oil in a saucepan over a low heat, use a pastry brush and lightly grease the base of a shallow 20cmx 30cm deep baking tray. Line the baking tin with 1 sheet of pastry, folding over any excess pastry. Brush this lightly with the melted butter and oil.
Repeat until you have used half of the pastry sheets, brushing each one lightly with butter and oil.
Spread half the nut filling over the pastry and cover with three layers of the filo pastry, brushing butter and oil on each layer. Sprinkle the remaining filling over the pastry.
Add the last sheets of filo pastry on top again brushing butter and oil over each sheet.
Fold any excess pastry underneath to keep the top tidy and finally brush the top of the pastry liberally with butter/oil, making sure that you cover the whole surface.
Dip a sharp knife into boiling water and score through the first 4 sheets making squares or diamond shaped portions. Sprinkle the top sheet of pastry with a little water to prevent it curling upwards. Bake in the preheated oven for 45-50 minutes or until golden brown.
Take the baklava out of the oven and let it cool before adding the syrup.
Meanwhile, make the syrup.
Place the water in a small saucepan with the sugar, honey, lemon rind, cinnamon and cloves. Bring to the boil and simmer uncovered for 10 minutes until the mixture has thickened slightly.
Take the syrup off the heat and let it cool slightly. Discard the lemon rind and spices and pour the hot syrup over the cooled pastry. Leave to soak for a few hours or overnight before cutting into portions.
Serve decorated with chopped pistachio nuts.
Baklava keeps well in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Buy my bestselling book in paperback or audio
My debut book is my guide to surviving and thriving at work and at home and offers insight into how to create a digital business or return to work with confidence.
Mumboss: The Honest Mum's Guide to Surviving and Thriving at Work and at Home
(UK 2nd Edition)
Available on Amazon or Audible
The Working Mom: Your Guide to Surviving and Thriving at Work and at Home
(US/Canada Edition)
Available September 8th 2020. Order now on Amazon
I’ve had baklava once but it was store bought and not what you’d call “authentic.” I need to find a place to buy it like a real bakery that makes it from scratch. Your Baklava looks scrumptious!
This has to be one of the amazing things on the entire planet. Soooo delicious!!
Aw and I can’t eat nuts so painful!
I made this is high school. Going to try it again using your recipe! Angela xx
Mmmm that looks delicious, I really must have a go at this one! #TastyTuesdays
@Kirsty thanks so much Kirsty, let me know if you do x
Baklava is my favourite “power snack” in the whole wide world… and it is my main craving for this pregnancy. I have my own little recipe, which I was planning to share (and link of course) in the next few weeks. I might wait a few months now, hihi! It is quite different to yours so I would be curious what you think! x Mel
@Mel oh really, how funny! No don’t wait, would love to see it! Thanks for your comment x
I have baclava on my blog too. Still one of my fav deserts
@Coombemill fab, must check that recipe out!
Yum! Thanks for linking up with #recipeotheweek – there’s a new one live now x
COMPETITION NOW CLOSED. Winner is Pam! Thanks to all who entered!
id love to dine here its just round the corner from my house and ive heard so much about the lush food
@shel l entry noted.
This looks amazing. I’d like to win this to surprise my daughter and her BF with – they really deserve a fab treat, such a tough year for them, honestly its like they have been living in a really badly written sitcom :).
They are such foodies a lovely meal at the Olive Tree would be the most fantastic surprise for them 🙂
@M Hockenhull entry noted, thanks!
I’m planning a surprise visit to Leeds for my boyfriend, I’ve booked a gig, this would be the icing on the cake ( no pun intended!)
@Linda thanks, entry noted!
The Baklava looks so yummy! I went to the Headingley restaurant several years ago, very nice it was too 🙂 Would love to take my partner there
@Samantha thanks, entry noted.
To celebrate our anniversary with a gorgeous meal at The Olive Tree would make it simply perfect. The only problem would be choosing from your extensive menu!
@Lynn thanks, entry counted.
I visit my niece in Leeds regularly at the university so it would be ideal to enjoy a fab meal and try yet another restaurant! X
@Julieanne thanks, entry noted.
My son’s living in Leeds and it would be a lovely surprise to turn up with an invite to this great restaurant.
@Diana thanks, entry noted.
I would love to win because I absolutely love Greek food and the restaurant looks lovely! I would love to go one evening with my partner for a tasty meal 🙂 (Liked both Facebook pages)
@Claire thanks and good luck!
Would love to take a break from household chores and treat myself to lunch without having to wash up. Not had a meal out for many years and this sounds the perfect place to start again. Just had a look at the restaurants and they all look lovely
@Pauline thanks, entry counted.
Love Greek food and this looks amazing, Thanks for a great prize 🙂
@Carol thanks and good luck!
always wanted to try as have heard good feed back from people at work ,hope I am lucky .
There’s a little Greek place down in Wales I went to once very similarly named to this one. Let’s just say from then on I was hooked on Greek food. I started with the mixed dips platter (pligouri, esme, melitzanoslata, houmous, tzatziki and taramosalata) that came with fresh warm bread. Omnom. That was followed by a vegetarian moussaka that was topped with bubbling cheese and then kadaifi which was similar to the baklava. I hadn’t had sweet filo pastry before that but oh. my. god. It was so good I started buying it for home and eventually tried making it at home. I rarely ever get to eat out beyond a hasty coffee snatched from a cafe so needless to say this would be a very special treat.
Oh I’ve liked the pages too!
Oh yummy, this looks like something that good bring me domestic goddess status. Looks really nice…
@Carolin it will! Thanks for linking your yummy dish, I’ve commented and will be recreating asap!
Thanks lovely, I will be back next week. Love a good food linky. So inspiring! x
@Carolin thanks so much, see you next week x
I went to The Olive Tree with my husband on our 5th wedding anniversary and I’d love it if we could go back for our anniversary in September this year! Thanks! 🙂
@Lyndsey how lovely, entry noted!
Phew, it’s taken me 8 goes but I’ve finally got your badge! It keeps disappearing off your page!! Xx
@Mama and More thank you, few technical glitches but hopefully all resolved now! xx
@Mama and More, thanks, few techie hitches but all resolved now x
I want to win and take my mother. She deserves a break after recent events and as I live in Leeds it would be a perfect place to give her it.
@John Naylor, thanks entry counted.
Would love to win this! OH & I could do with a scrummy taste of Greek loveliness seen as the budget no longer stretches to abroad holidays!
@Claire thnaks, entry noted.
Hi, I’ve liked both pages. The baklava looks delish – will defo give it a go!
@Liz ferguson thank you! Entry has been counted!
I would love to win and take one of my best friends out to dinner. She lived in Greece previously and it is her favourite restaurant. She really needs cheering upnat the moment !
@Jenny Ryan how lovely, thanks your entry has been counted!
I want to win because it’s THE best Greek food outside of Greece. Great atmosphere too…and I’d give it to my son and daughter in law because it’s their 4th wedding anniversary today. Efharisto 🙂
@Pam that is lovely of you to say, thank you and your entry has been noted.
Efharisto. x
Pam you have won the meal! Emailed you but not heard back!
Thanks for this, I totally LOVE Baklava. Leeds is too far away, please tell them to open restaurants up in London too 😉 x
@Franglaise Mummy thank you, that was on the cards a while back but think they wanted me to run it and I was too busy! You must visit if ever in Leeds x
I’d love to win the vouchers because we’ve been married over 20 years and don’t get to go on many dates together any more – these would be a great excuse for my typical Yorkshire hubby to take me out – someone else is paying. lol
@Susan moore hehe! Thanks for your entry.
I’d love to win so I can take my mum for a fabulous greek meal. I’ve been before many times and loved it but she never has, this would be an opportunity to treat her.
@Emily thanks, how sweet, your entry has been noted!
I would love to win the vouchers because, as it is for a lot of people, money is a bit tight at the moment and it would give me the opportunity to take my mum out for a really fantastic night out – she would love it!!
@Phillipa Dutton, thank you your entry has been counted!
Love this restaurant
@Christine Sutherland! Thanks, entry noted!
@Christine thanks for your entry.
I get married in Greece next year and would love a meal at The Olive Tree with my fiancée as we can’t afford to do anything but save for the wedding!
@Claire Cressey hope you have a fab wedding. Your entry has been taken into consideration.
@Claire Cressey thanks for your entry.
I would love to go to the restaurant, I’d make a romantic weekend of it with my Mr 🙂
Linked up my cheesecake too x
@Emma thanks for linking and your entry has been counted!
@Emma thanks for your comment and linking up, entry has been received.
Hurray! I’ve linked up!! I love a foodie linky, and can’t wait to check out some new recipes. Baklava, yum!! Xxx
@Mama and More aka Zaz thanks lady, lots of yummy inspiration here xxx
@Mama and More aka Zaz fab, thanks for linking up xx
I love this restaurant and woulod like to go there again soon.
@Heather thank you, entry counted!
could do with a nice meal out and this looks just the place .have liked both pages
@Clair downham fab! Your entry has been counted!
It would be awesome to win and have a meal there with my partner and his parents who live in Leeds 🙂
@Jasmin Holland, great, entry counted!
Yum, I adore baklava! Thanks for doing this lovely linky – I can’t wait to check out all these delicious-looking recipes! x
@Hannah Ruth thanks for linking, your salad looks delicious! x
I’d love to win a visit to the restaurant as I have never been to a greek restaurant before! It looks lovely 🙂
@Andrea fab, entry counted. They have 3 restaurants in Leeds. Thanks for linking too!
That looks delicious!
Wow, just wow that looks flippin amazing
@Emma @Helvetia Handmade thanks and for linking too! Lovely to discover all these gorgeous recipes!
oh my days! that sounds soo good, think my mr lowe will like this too! x
@Mascara & mud sure he will, hubby loves it here! x
I think I am going to love this linky!
@Capture by Lucy, thanks, so pleased you and others have joined today!
Love baklava, although I am afraid I am a tad scared of getting the filo pastry right myself…I used to buy it from Selfridges foodhall in my London days, but yours looks even yummier and I may be brave and give it a try!
@sarahhillwheeler It is not easy so don’t blame you one bit. You can find filo easily in supermarkets.
You are making me very hungry!! 😛
@Val hehe glad you are enjoying the post!
This looks amazing….I’m going to have to try all of PappaGs recipes
@Alice Langley thanks, hope you do. Lots of lovely ones coming your way soon! Thanks for linking!
Love baklava and this looks delicious! Great linky idea, we could all do with some fresh new recipes. Wish I lived nearer your family’s restaurants, I would be there all the time! x
@Xandi The Mummy Scripts thanks for lovely comments, any time you are in Leeds, let me know! x
Oh I love Papa G’s recipes! This looks like a fantastic weekend breakfast – would that be really naughty?
@Aimee hehe, no, go on Aimee. Yum!